Racecards
20:30 Bangor-on-Dee
Dwf Solicitors Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 411/379-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
made all, pushed out
- Form 141126-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Mr T Greenall
held up, slightly hampered 5th, headway approaching 6th, went 2nd after 3 out, ridden after 2 out
- Form FP2P53-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
mid-division, headway 4th, ridden in 3rd and 6 lengths down when fell 2 out
- Form 411111-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer J M Jefferson
- Jockey T J Dreaper
held up, hit 3rd, headway 4th, weakened 3 out, behind when hampered 2 out
- Form 37/P00P-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer J Candlish
- Jockey A O'keeffe
pulled hard, hampered 5th, always behind
- Form 223072-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer J T Stimpson
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
mid-division, lost place 3rd, behind when hampered 5th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
- Form 063641-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey E Dehdashti
chased leaders, ridden 3 out, weakening when left 3rd briefly, and hampered 2 out
- Form 938324-
- Age 8
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer D Burchell
- Jockey O McPhail
prominent, mistake 2nd, outpaced 6th, left 3rd after 3 out, no chance when fell last
- Form 77556P-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey Stephen Craine
prominent, ridden and lost place when blundered badly 5th, soon pulled up
Man Ray (USA)
153- Form 4/0722-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A P McCoy
held up, some headway when blundered badly 5th, soon pulled up
- Form 212U68-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer P C Haslam
- Jockey G Bartley
mid-division, lost place 6th, took poor 3rd flat
In depth
Verdict
Polar Gunner, Tamreen and, possibly, Flame Phoenix, form teh short list, with the vote going to Polar Gunner. Polar Gunner is on a roll and is seeking his sixth-successive win. Just two pounds above the most recent of those wins - which, admittedly, came over fences - he still looks competitive. Atahuelpa has returned to winning mark from 2004 but has not shown much encouragement of late but A Bit Of Fun comes here on the back of a good run, although a career-best effort is required here in order to score. Misbehaviour is in the same boat, but Tamreen is very much respected under a penalty for a Stratford win in first-time blinkers last time. Bonny Grey might sneak a place, while Flame Phoenix has a fine chance based on his 2004 form and races in first-time blinkers today. Man Ray's run behind Green Iceni at Sandown last time on heavy going was an improved effort and he could have better to come. Finally, Unjust Law is interesting on his handicap bow but Polar Gunner might just about have too much nous for both him and the others and he is the selection.
Formwatch
Lord Henry (IRE) 20-1 (10-1) Prominent and keen, led approaching 1st, ridden and headed 2 out, soon weakened, 9th of 17, 24l behind Wellbeing (10-2) at Aintree 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gs in Apr.
Unjust Law (IRE) 4-6fav (11-4) In touch, ridden after 3 out, 4th and 7 lengths down when badly hampered last, 6th of 12, 17l behind Witness Run (11-0) at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Mister Mustard (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Towards rear, ridden and outpaced 4 out, headway approaching 2 out, kept on but no chance, 3rd of 9, 9l behind Marrel (10-1) at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Apr.
Polar Gunner 7-2fav (10-9) Always prominent, led going well 3 out, drew clear after last, eased near finish, won at Haydock 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Apr beating Executive Decision (11-2) by 8l, 10 ran.
A Bit of Fun 25-1 (11-11) Raced wide, mid-division, headway approaching 5th, every chance from 3 out until last, not quicken flat, 2nd of 16, 2l behind No Guarantees (11-9) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Apr.
Tamreen (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) In touch, driven 5th, tracked leader 3 out, led and clear soon after, comfortable, won at Stratford 2m nov hcp hdl (3) gd in Apr beating Estate (9-10) by 6l, 13 ran.
Bonny Grey 4-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, ridden 5th and hit, soon one pace, 4th of 9, 10l behind Marrel (10-1) at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Apr.
Man Ray (USA) 5-1 (11-2) Held up, headway to close on leaders, going well before 2 out, led last, no extra and headed final 75 yards, 2nd of 14, 2l behind Green Iceni (11-6) at Sandown 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (D) hvy in Dec.